At the moment there are brown hairy caterpillars in
gardens, fields and forests. There are two types:
The March or Woolly Bear Caterpillar and the Eastern Pine
Processionary Caterpillar (the ones that join in long chains).
These should NOT be touched with bare hands, nor should
dogs be allowed to sniff around them as they are extremely dangerous. The Eastern Pine
Processionary Caterpillar is especially dangerous, as it has hollow hairs that
contain toxins that can cause severe allergic skin irritation.
The hairs of the caterpillars
can give skin irritation and have a particularly bad effect on dogs that stick
their noses into the cluster.To clarify, these are often misidentified as the Eastern Pine Processionary Caterpillar (Thaumetopoea wilkinsoni). These are the caterpillars seen in pine tress (see fourth image) and they have hairs that are hollow and filled with an irritating toxin. When touched the hairs abrade or penetrate the skin and toxin enters the body, resulting in very severe skin irritation.
March or Woolly Bear - Adult female - wingless and unable to fly - laying eggs
March or Woolly Bear Caterpillars
March or Woolly Bear - Adult male
Eastern Pine Processionary Caterpillars
